But as I thought more and more about the lottery winnings and what I would do with it, it hit me that not only is playing the lottery not practical but it actually robs us, as believers. I am not judging those of you who had a lottery ticket for the big give away...that is between you and God. What I am here to share with you is a truth that we find all over in scripture...and that is this....God shows up when we are weak. God provides when we have nothing. And God's greatest glory is revealed in us as we work along side of Him and other believers to impact this world for good.
My past couple of posts have been centered on opening ourselves up to those around us who need God's love and our help. This comes from a recent unveiling of a local missions project my church launched. It is a program that needs a considerable amount of funding to get off the ground. It is a mission that I believe whole heartedly in and in fact, as I mentally made a list of those I would bless with my millions, the Impact Center was on the top of the list. I could imagine how amazing it would be to write that ginormous check and see our city revolutionized through this mission. But by doing so, who would miss out on the opportunity to give? Who would not have a chance to get on bended knee, pray for God's direction and then in faith, give sacrificially to this cause? And the flip side to that ....who would miss out on the joy and blessing waiting for them because of their giving? This mission will be great and God will be overwhelmingly glorified because HE is going to do it through us, a small church with great faith. The congregation will continue to draw closer together and be unified through this vision as we see the beginning stages take shape. To have the ministry blessed by one person with millions would mean that as a church, we would miss out on the growth experience and the chance to see God's hand of provision move in a mighty way through all of us.
The same holds true for our families, our marriages, our careers, etc. If it was all given to us....if it was easily funded, problems solved, no hurdles to jump, no hardship to walk through, we would be robbed of the growth, the sharpening, the stretching of our faith muscles. God did not send Jesus to die on the cross so that all would be easy and pain free. He might choose to bless you with millions from the lottery or some other venue, but in reality, He is more likely to bless you with great character, strength and faith....those things are developed through trials, troubles and tough times.
In Matthew 5:3 Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." He didn't say that the one with the most money wins, or the biggest house or the most toys or the biggest office. But it is the one who humbly comes to the King, just thankful enough to be loved by Him, that is blessed with a Kingdom that outshines the mega millions this world could ever offer us.
I read this story today that sums up this lesson so perfectly....
Once there was a landlord who decided to hold a lavish feast and invite everyone who lived in the village surrounding his palatial home. Merchants were delighted with the invitation, as they aspired to a higher social rank, and this was a chance to impress the landlord and gain his favor. On the day of the feast, each merchant dressed in fine clothes and carried armloads of gifts into the landlord's home.
Poor people of the village, however, felt differently. Most were ashamed of their poverty and thought themselves unworthy of appearing in front of the great man, and these people sent their regrets. Others gathered a few modest gifts and brought them to the landlord's home in hopes their offering might win the landlord's approval.
The village pauper was the last to enter the door of the landlord's home, his head bowed and his hands empty, glad just to be asked to join the distinguished company.
Looking out over the guests, the landlord said, "I asked you here not to receive from you, but to give to you. Only one person here has arms empty to take the bounty I have to offer, and to this one I give my richest and more abundant gifts." And that's what the landlord did. The pauper left the feast with arms overflowing with riches and a heart filled with joy and thanksgiving.
What a great lesson! God doesn't need us to accumulate great wealth in order for Him to work. He can bless us in ways we couldn't imagine. Are we so focused on what this world can give us that we miss the blessings that the Landlord, who owns a thousand cattle on a thousand hills, can give us? Do we wish that He would divinely give us the winning lottery numbers so that we could be mega winners? "If I could just win....all my worries would go away.....and I could bless a bunch of people." We might not play the lottery but so many of us pray the same kind of prayer...."If God would just let me get a better paying job." "If the congregation would just grow by 10%" "I would help more, if I had more." Don't be guilty of coming to the feast with arms already full of the measly riches we so hope to impress God with. Be thankful, that in times when we need a provider, God promises that we will inherit the Kingdom. Finally, be joyful for the way a hardship, financial challenges included, can grow us, sharpen us and stretch our faith so that when God does show up as a provider, we can easily stand and say, "that was MY God who did that!"
1 Thessalonians 5:25 "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."
Only when you come to your Lord with nothing to give are your arms and your heart ready to receive all the blessings He desires to shower on you.
*story taken from the Bible Study Notebook published by Everything Organized, Product Concept Manufacturing, Inc.
No comments:
Post a Comment